Ned owns an incredibly kitschy, noir-style restaurant called The Pie Hole. He has a slightly eerie, pragmatic use for his powers: he partners with a private investigator, Emerson Cod,to briefly resurrect murder victims, ask who killed them, and collect the cash reward. He also uses his powers in his baking, briefly touching rotted, bruised fruit to instantly bring it back to ripe freshness.Despite his morbid lifestyle, Ned is a deeply tender, generous, and mild-mannered man. He carries considerable childhood trauma: his mother died from an aneurysm, and when Ned instinctively touched her to bring her back, she died again a moment later when she gave him a goodnight kiss. This event made him incredibly cautious about forming deep attachments and fearful of physical affection.